ALGARVE CAR HIRE - NEWS

Algarve generated €546 million in 2010 tourism revenue

During the International Lisbon-based tourism fair held at the FIL exhibition centre last weekend Nuno Aires, President of the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA) announced that the region made €546 million in revenue last year.

According to data cited by Nuno Aires from the National Statistics Institute (INE), in 2010 the Algarve recorded a total 13.265 million overnight stays (2.6% more than in 2009) and 3.79 million overnight stays by residents (up 4.2% compared to the previous year).

The Algarve was the region that produced the most revenue in Portugal, a total of €546 million, and the Algarve also received the greatest amount of Portuguese tourists ever, with 3.8 million overnight stays recorded, 4.7% more than in 2009,” said Nuno Aires.

Faro Airport also saw an increase of 5.7% compared to 2009, with a total of 5,348,798 passengers.

During his speech at the BTL, Nuno Aires also announced that the Centro de Congressos do Arade, in Parchal, had “a new management team” and that the RTA is the first in the country to activate applications for the iPhone and Android, with free information in Portuguese and English.

The organisation of a “European Congress of Enogastronomic Societies” with 700 participants from nine countries and 94 societies was also announced for the Algarve.

Speaking about the annual Allgarve events programme, Nuno Aires said that this year’s edition is dedicated to the UK, and the schedule is almost complete.

Jazz from the Duke Wellington Orchestra, pop and soul from Portugal’s Aureu, Fado by António Zambujo and electronic sounds by British band Morcheeba, will be some of the entertainment in the region this year.

The Allgarve programme is officially due to start on Saturday, 5 March with a concert at Faro’s municipal theatre including performances by Portuguese artists Joana Amendoeira, Mafalda Arnauth, António Zambujo, Vibiane and Rui Veloso.